Accounting machine



Feb. 1, 1944. N 1. GHERTMAN 2,340,741

Y ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1941. 7 Sheets-Sheet '1 Feb., 19 GHERTMAN ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVE OR f QM M BY ATTORNEY Feb. l, 1944. L GHERTMAN ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1941 -7 Sheets-Sheetl .'5

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f. HVVENTOH4 A TTORNE Y Feb. l, 1944. l, GHERTMAN' 2,340,741

ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed Jne 4, 1941 7 SheetsSheet 5 AYAVAYAY TM /RSa R9 Ra R7a 3a l deze aa L Lg u w15 ,Af-170x 1N ENTOR" ATTORNEY Feb. 1, 1944. L GHERTMAN 2,340,741

ACCOUNTING MACHINE FTA-' 'BY M@ I ATTORNEY l Feb. l, 1944. 1, GHERTMAN 2,340,741

ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed June'4, 1941` V"I Sheets-Sheerl 7 m u u um u u u u Ugo-fi? i\ @www l EZ INVENTOR A TTORNE Y Patented Feb. 1, 1944 ACCOUNTING MACHINE Iolno Ghertman, St. Mande, France, assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 4,1941, Serial No. 396,627

In France .lune 4,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to accounting machines and particularly to accounting machines of the record controlled type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for use in connection with accounting machines employed in handling bank problems. It is the practice in certain banks to prepare a perforated record card for each transaction that takes place between the bank and a customer. Upon such record may be entered the customers account number, the date of the transaction. the amount, and an indication as to whether the transaction is to be credited or debited to the account. Over a selected accounting period which may be a month, a quarter or other part of a year, there will be assembled for each account number a group of cards arranged in order of their dates and from this group of cards various reports are prepared. Machines have been devised for control by such cards, of which that shown in copending application Serial No. 383,914, of George F. Daly, filed March 18, 1941, is an example. In such machine, mechanism is provided for obtaining the difference of the number of days between transaction dates. Thus, if a transaction occurs on date 1 and no further transaction occurs until date 15, the machineobtains the diiference 14 which controls the machine accordingly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for obtaining the diierence in date numbers between successively sensed record cards, regardless of whether there is one or more cards having the same date numbei'.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which will obtain the difference in date numbers without requiring any additional cycles of operation in the machine.

' Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following vdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an outside view of the card feeding and analyzing mechanism.

Fig. la is a detail section on line Ia-Ia of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the controlling devices of the accumulator resetting mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an isometric View of one denominational order of an accumulator.

Fig. 4 is a detail of parts shown in Fig. 3.

(Cl. 23E-61.8)

Fig. 5 is a view showing the arrangement of a representative group of record cards which are to control the operation of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a timing diagram of the various cam controlled contact devices of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the units order of an accumulator showing the mechanism for entering the elusive one during subtracting operations.

Fig. 8 is a chart depicting settings of the accumulators during the variousstages of operation of the machine.

Figs. 9, 9a and 9b taken together in the order named comprise a wiring diagram of the electric circuits of the machine.

The mechanical structure of the machine is similar to that shown and described in Patent 2,126,621, granted to G. F. Daly on August 9, 1938.

Card feeding mechanism The card feeding mechanism shown in Fig. l is exactly similar to that shown and described `in the patent referred to.. The record cards R are fed from the magazine, one by one, downwardly by a picker 9 to pairs of feed rollers I0 which serve to advance the cards past upper and lower brushes UB and LB in succession. The shafts upon which rollers I0 are mounted are provided with gears at their extremities arf ranged as shown in Fig. l for operation by a main driving gear II which is freely mounted upon a shaft 8 and which has connection with an arm I5 through a sleeve l (see Fig. la). Arm I5 carries spring pressed clutching dog I6 normally heldin the position shown by an armature latch I'I which is adapted to be controlled by the clutch magnet I8. Between gear II and arm I5 are a gear I3 and a clutch driving disk I4 freely rotntable upon the sleeve 1. Gear I3 has gear connection generally designated I2 with the pulley shaft 6 which is in operation as loner as. the main driving motor is operated. .Energization of magnet I8 will trip dog I6 into engagement with disk I4, and the card feeding mechanism will cause cards to be advanced past the brushes UB and LB and feeding operations will continue as long as magnet I8 remains energized. During total taking cycles of operation, magnet I8 is deenergized and card feeding will, of course, not take place during such cycles.

Printing mechanism The machine is also provided with printing mechanism which is exactly the same as that shown in the Daly patent. The same will, therepatent, and upon energization these magnets will control the position of the type bars in the same manner as in the patent.

Accumulating mechanism 'I'he machine is provided with a number of accumulators similar to those shown and described in the Daly patent. For the purposes of the present invention, two accumulators of the so-called "direct subtraction type" are provided. 'I'hese accumulators are the same in construction as those shown in Patent 1,976,617, granted to C. D. Lake et al. on October 9, 1934. For the purposes of the present invention, these accumulators may be limited to four denominational orders each, and the description thereof will be limited to a brief explanation of their manner of operation.

Referring to Fig. 3, the drive shaft 69 is directly geared to pulley shaft of Fig. l'so that it is in operation as long as the driving motor of the machine functions, and the drive ratio is such that shaft 69 makes one revolution for each card feeding cycle of the machine. Shaft 69 has slidably mounted thereon but keyed for rotation therewith a clutch element 1|, one for each denominational order of the accumulator. The element 1| is provided with a groove in which fits the end of the short arm of lever 'i3 which is pivoted at 14 as shown and provided with a block 15 normally held as in Fig. 3 by armature latch 16 of adding magnet 11.

A leaf spring 18 bears against the extremity of the long arm o'f lever 13 and moves the same in counterclockwise direction upon release of block 15 by armature 1B. This movement Will bring clutching member 'li into engagement with cooperating teeth 19, integral with a gear 80 loosely mounted on shaft 69. Gear 80, when thus coupled to shaft 69, will rotate a gear 82 which meshes therewith and will displace the accumulator index wheel 83. The rearward extremity of lever 13 is adapted to be engaged by a finger 84 toward the end of the cycle for the purpose of disengaging clutch element 1| from teeth 19 and relatching block 15 on armature 16.

Briefly summarizing the adding operation, the magnet 11 may be energized at various points in the cycle of the machine depending upon the location of a perforation in the column of the record card analyzed by the sensing brushes. This energization may take place in response to a perforation in any of the index point positions from 9 to 1 inclusive. A perforation in the 9 index point position will trip the clutch element 'H nine steps before linger 84 is operated to deenergize it, and a perforation in the 1 index point position will trip the clutch element 'il one step before it is deenergized by the finger 84. Each step of clutching engagement corresponds to a tenth of a revolution of the accumulator index wheel 03, so that a 9 hole will move it nine-tenths of a revolution and a 1 hole will move it onetenth of a revolution. The manner in which circuits through the sensing brushes control the operation of the magnet 11 will be set forth in connection with the explanation of the circuit diagram.

Readout mechanism Also driven by gear 80 (Fig. 3) is a gear |09. Since the ratio cf gears |09 and 80 is 2:1, the former will turn through a half revolution for each revolution of the latter. Carried by and insulated from gear I 03 is a pair of electrically connected brushes H0, one of which cooperates successively with ten conducting segments III, while the other cooperates with an arcuate conducting strip H2. is such that, when the index Wheel 03 is in its zero position, one of the brushes ||0 is in contact with the zero segment and the other brush is in contact with the strip I I2, thus forming an electrical connection between the two. The positioning of the brushes ||0 provides a convenient electrical readout mechanism for controlling total printing operations, and the electrical circuits involved in these functions will be more fully explained in connection with the circuit diagram.

Subtracting mechanism For the purpose of the present invention, two of the accumulators are provided with subtracting mechanism of well known construction, whereby entries may be made in the form of complements. Such mechanism is fully shown and described in Patent 1,976,617, and its operation will, therefore, be but briefly explained in connection with Fig. 3.

In the operation of substraction, the entry of the 9 complement of the number to be subtracted is effected by initially tripping all the adding magnets 11 as though to add 9 in each position, and causing the perforation in the record card to declutch the adding mechanism in accordance with the location of the perforation. This will result in the addition of the 9 complement of the number.

Secured to shaft ||6 are ay plurality of clutch elements H1, one for each denominational order position of the accumulator, and cooperating with each element is a clutching dog ||8 pivoted at ||9 to a cam |20 freely mounted on shaft H6. Also freely mounted on the shaft is a triple arm member |2I, one of whose arms engages a pin |22 in the free end of dog H8 to hold the latter out of engagement with the driving element |I1. Each of the arms of member |2l is adapted to cooperate in turn with a pawl |23 which is carried by clutch element |24 pivoted at |25. The pawl |23 is resiliently mounted on element |24 through spring and pin connection |26. A magnet armature |21 is pivoted at |28 and has a pin |29 in a laterally extending arm thereof, which is adapted upon energization of subtracting magnet |30 to rock element |24 in a clockwise direction to release member |2|, thereby permitting spring i 3| to rock the element in counterclockwise direction through pin I 22, at the same time permitting the engagement of dog 8 with the driving element 1. The cam |20 will thus be driven in a counter-clockwise direction until the next arm of member |2| is engaged by pawl |23, which then causes disengagement of the clutch and interruption of further movement of the cam. The cam |20 is provided with three notches |32 about its periphery into which roller |33 rises successively. Upon the initial movement of cam |20, the higher concentric portion of cam |20 will depress roller |33 and with it slider |34 upon which the roller is pivoted. A pin |35a extending axially from roller |33 engages a horizontal arm of element |24 to cause the positive restoration of clutch pawl |23 and armature |21, immediately after the clutching action. Slider |34 (see also Fig. 4) has adjustably connected thereto a slider |35 which is vertically positionable with respect to slider |34, as by pin and slot 'I'he relationship of the parts connection |38, The lower extremity oi' sliderl |35 is provided with a notch into which the horizontal arm of bell crank |31 is fitted. The bell crank is pivoted at |38, and its depending arm lies adjacent to the edge of a clutch arm 13, so that the downward movement of slider |31 will cause the bell crank |31 to engage and move arm 13 in a declutching direction at a time determined by the time of energization of magnet |30 which is controlled by circuits extending through the sensing brushes.

It is desirable at the time of declutching of the adding mechanism to cause the positive restoration of the armature 16 of magnet 11 which ordinarily,would not be positively restored until the end of the cycle. This is effected through an arm |39 pivoted at |40 and having connection with the slider |33 through a stud ll. Arm |39 carries a spring pressed pivoted finger |42 whose downwardly extending portion is adapted to ensage the armature 1G and move it away from its magnet 11. A spring |43 is provided to move arm |39 and incidentally slider |34 upwardly after they have been depressed. Arm |39 is also provided with an offset finger |46 which engages a horizontally slidable rod |45 whose opposite end is connected through a pin to a finger |36 pivoted at |41. The free end of finger |46 lies in the path of pins 91, and the finger will be moved into cooperation with one of the pins 91 at the time that declutching is effected as just described. This will prevent overthrowing of the index wheel 83 which might otherwise take place due to the high speed at which this mechanism is operated. In Fig. 3 the shaft H6 has such driving connecltion through usualgearing (not shown) with shaft 69 that shaft I i6 makes two revolutions for one revolution of shaft 69.

Elusive one During certain subtracting operations, it is necessary to add a so-called fugitive or "elusive" one into the units order of an accumulator. This is effected by means of well known mechanism shown in Fig, 7 where the units order index wheel 83 has associated therewith a magnet 53 whose armature 54 is secured to the carry lever latch 55 of the units order, so that energization of magnet 53 will trip the units pawl carrying arm 56 whereby during the carrying portion of the machine cycle the pawl 51 associated with the units order Will advance the units index wheel 83 one step.

Accumulator resetting mechanism at its extremity which is in engagement with gear 60 mounted upon reset shaft 6|. At the extremity of shaft 6I is a gear 62 which is adapted to be driven by an intermittent gear 63 which is secured to shaft 64. Also iixed to shaft 64 is an4 arm 65 which carries spring pressed clutch dog 66 normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a latching arm 61 supported =by armature shaft 68 of magnet armature 63a.

Energization of magnet will release dog 68 for engagement with clutch driving element 85.

' trollecl by cams on shaft I9 (Fig. 2).

Element VIl is integral with a gear 06 which meshes with a gear 81 secured upon constantly running shaft I9. With this arrangement drive element -85 is in constant rotation and, whenever it is desired to effect resetting of the accumulators, magnet 10 is energized to provide a connection between the element 85 and the resetting shaft BI. The period during which shaft 84 rotates is called a total taking cycle" or total and reset cycle, during the yfirst half of which total printing takes place and during the second half actual resetting of the accumulatore occurs. The shaft 6I may be selectively coupled to the accumulator reset gear by means of the usual so-called zero button magnet"- or may be manually coupled and locked thereto. The usual devices for effecting such action are shown in Fig. 8 of Patent 1,976,617 referred to.

Circuit control devices 4The machine is provided with a number of circuit closing devices which are shown in the circuit diagram where they are prefixed in the customary manner by the letter F, L and P, the prefix F denoting that such devices are operated during lcard feeding cycles and are controlled from cams on a shaft which operates during card feeding operations, preferbaly the shaft 8| (Fig. 1). The contact devices prefixed L are operative during all cycles and are preferably con- The devices preilxed P operate during total and reset cycles and are controlled by cams on shaft 64 which operates only during such cycles.

General explanation of the circuit diagram The wiring diagram of the electric circuits is shown in Figs. 9, 9a and 9b wherein the various cam controlled contact devices are diagrammatlcally shown and suitably labeled F, L or P for identifying as explained. The timing of these contact devices is shown in the timing diagram (Fig. 6) to which reference may be made for the time in the cycle ofv operation during which they function. In Fig. 6 the darkened portions represent the period during which the cam contacts are closed. Due to the several interlocking relays employed in the arrangement, it has not been advisable in all instances to show relay magnets and their associated contacts in close proximity to one another. For purposes of clarity, in the wiring arrangement the relay contact points are shown in the circuit which they control and the relay magnets are dotted adjacent thereto. Further than this, the contacts are designated with the same reference character as the controlling magnet followed by a lower case letter.

Problem The representative set of cards for controlling the operation of the machine is shown in Fig. 5 where the cards R are perforated with the same account number 17 in the left hand field and with a date in the next eld. Amount representing perforations are made in the right hand field where also a special well known X hole may be made as indicated at |08, when the amount is a credit transaction. This group of cards represents a customer's transactions with the bank during an accounting period, and there is present a card for each day upon which a transaction occurred. Where several transactions occur on any day, there will be a number of cards for that day, each bearing the same date. 'Ihese dates may run consecutively from 1 and may cover anl interest period of any number of days,

values are sensed by the rst or upper set of brushes UB, and these control entries into two accumulators designated ACC.A and ACC.B. In Fig. 8 there is diagrammatically represented the settings of thesetwo accumulators in response to the sensing of the set of cards shown in Fig. 5. Accumulator A is arranged to enter the date of the first, third, fifth, etc. cards as` tens complements of such dates, and to enter the dates of the second, fourth, sixth, etc. cards in their true value. Accumulator B is arranged to enter complements of the dates for the second, fourth, sixth, eight, etc. cards and to enter the true date values for the first, third, fifth, seventh, etc. cards with the exception of the very first card of the group for which entry into .acmulator B is suppressed.

Thus, as indicated in Fig. 8, on the first line no entry is made in accumulator B and the tens -complement of date l is entered into accumulator A, 1" being the date on the rst card of the group. Sensing of the second card results in the entry of date 1 in accumulator A and the tens complement thereof in accumulator B. With a third card which also bears date 1 the tens complement is entered in accumulator A and the true value in accumulator B. The fourth card passing the upper brushes bears the date number 3 which is entered into accumulator A as a true value and as a complement into accumulator B. When the first card bearing date 3 has passed the upper brushes, the usual group control mechanism will detect the change in date between this card and the previous one which has just passed the lower brushes and will bring about what is commonly termed a minor group change, whose function it is at this point to interrupt further card feeding and sensing operations and initiate other machine operations. At this time as indicated on the fifth line of Fig. 8, accumulator A stands at 2 and accumulator B stands at 9997. The amount in accumulator A represents the difference in dates between l and 3.

In the accoiuiting work of banking institutions, this difference is multiplied by what is called the daily balance of Aa particular account for the day represented by the date 1, for example, to obtain what is known as a table of interest. In the copending application Serial No. 383,914 referred to there is shown mechanism for obtaining the date difference and effecting automatic multiplication operations. In the present case, multiplying devices are not shown so as not to unduly complicate the disclosure. Instead, the machine is arranged so that the differencel 2 is printed upon a record sheet during the total and reset cycle following the minor group change. V'

During the total and reset cycle, the difference 2 is printed and accumulator A is reset while the setting in accumulator VB is retained. After this cycle, card feeding resumes and the date 3 from the next card is negatively entered in' accumulator A and positively in accumulator B. Following this, the card with the date 4 is sensed with the value 4 positively entered in accumulator A and negatively in accumulator B. Thus. upon the subsequent minor group change accumulator A contains the difference 1 and accumulator B contains 9996.

During the print and reset cycle, the 1 isI printed from accumulator A and then this accumulator is reset. The first card having the date 5 is next sensed and entered as indicated, with a following minor group change. At this time the difference is represented in accumulator B which now controls printing and is in turn reset. Upon resumption of card feeding the second card having the date 5 is sensed, and this date is entered positively in accumulator A and negatively in accumulator B.

During the next following feeding cycle, the card having the date 27 is sensed and this date is entered negatively in accumulator A and positively in accumulator B. The minor group change is again indicated with accumulator B showing the difference 22 which is printed, and accumulator B is reset while accumulator A retains the setting 9973. Following this, the remaining cards with date 27 are sensed and entries made as indicated, and thereafter the last card has its date 30 entered and the minor group change brings about a total taking cycle, during which the difference 3 is printed and accumulator B reset.

Upon resumption of card feeding, the card with the date 30 passes the lower brushes and, since this is the last card of the group, there will be no card passing the upper brushes. As a result, there will be no entries made into accumulators A or B and the machine will stop.

Circuit diagram The detailed explanation of the various circuits for handling the problem represented in Figs. 5 and 8 will now be explained in connection with the circuit diagram (Figs. 9, 9a, 9b). Current for the machine is supplied to lines designated |00 and 94 from a suitable source (not shown). In the lower part of Fig. 9 is shown the usual minor group control mechanism generally designated GC, and as is usual in tabulating machines it is first necessary to set up the minor holding relay magnets MI before the machine can be started. This is effected by depression of the reset key to close contacts 93, thereby completing a circuit from right side of line 94, wire 95, contacts 93, relay magnet R1, to line |00.

Energization of magnet R1 closes contacts Rla in the upper part of Fig. 9 which will thereupon complete a circuit from right side of 04, wire 95, stop key contacts ST, contacts Rla, re` lay magnet R8, contacts |02, main drive clutch magnet |03 to line |00., Energization of magnet |03 will cause coupling of the driving motor 'I'M to the pulley shaft 6 mentioned above and will incidentally cause opening of contactsv maintained through either contacts UCLa or contacts LCM.

The relay magnet R1. energized by-depression of the reset key will close a second pair of contacts R'lb for completing a circuit from line 0l, wire 95, cam contacts L2, contacts R11), reset clutch magnet 10, to line |00. As explained in the mechanical description, energization of magnet 10 will effect rotation of the shaft 6| (Fig. 2) for one revolution. At this time the accumulators A and B are manually coupled to this shaft so that these accumulators are zeroized if they happen to contain entries as a result of some previous use of the machine.

During this resetting operation the P cams function, of which contacts P3 (lower part of Fig. 9) close to set up the minor control circuit. The detailed manner in which the group control mechanism Ifunctions to control the operation of the machine is well known in the art and fully set forth in Patent 1,976,617 above referred to, so that such detailed description will be unnecessary here. Suffice it to say that the date columns of the cards are plug connected for minor control as by representative plug connections designated so that, upon a change in minor group classification perforations, relay magnets MI and R|0 will become deenergized.

The circuit set up during the reset cycle is traceable from line r|00, contacts P3, magnets MI, R|0, contacts F3, to line 94. At this time there is also a parallel circuit extending from line |00, through the relay magnets as before, but from there on branching through relay contacts LCLb, to line 94. During each card feeding cycle contacts F3 open momentarily as indicated in Fig. 6. If the device is plug connected in the usual manner for control by the perforated iields of successive cards, there will be a shunt circuit completed to maintain .the magnets MI and R|0 energized. If the holes sensed disagree, there will be no shunt circuit and the magnets will become deenergized.

Starting circuit- With the group control set up, that is, with magnets MI and R|0 energized and with the accumulators clear, the accumulators are manually uncoupled from the reset shaft 6| for subsequent selective resetting, and the machine is in readiness to feed cards and analyze the data thereon. Depression of the start key and closure of its contacts S will complete a circuit from line 94, wire 95, start contacts S, relay magnet RIB, to line |00. HContacts R|3b thereupon close, completing a circuit from line 94, wire 05, contacts R|0b (now closed), contacts R1c, stop key contacts STa (operable concurrently with the contacts ST), relay contacts RI 3b, relay magnet R|4 to line |00. This circuit, it will be observed, can only be completed when the group control relay magnets are energized.

Magnet RM will close its contacts R|4a to provide a holding circuit for the magnet, and a second pair of contacts Rllb in the upper part of Fig. 9 will close to complete a circuit to the card feed clutch magnet I8 so that cards will commence to feed.` During the rst card feed cycle,

Vthe first card will be advanced from the magazine, and with the start key contacts 93 held closed a second card feed cycle takes place during which the first card is advanced to a position where it is just about to pass the upper UCL which in turn closes its contacts UCLc to provide a holding circuit through cam contacts L5. I

Magnet UCL is energized after the group control testing contacts F3 have opened and closed again. so that the control relay magnets are still energized at the end of this card feed cycle and continued depression of the lstart key will cause the machine to enter upon a third cardv feed cycle, during which the first card passes the upper brushes UB and no card is passing the lower brushes. To prevent the 'group control mechanism from 'indicating a group change during this cycle, contacts. LCLb are provided as shown in the lower part of Fig. 9 to maintainv the minor control magnets energized when contacts F3 open during this card feeding cycle. Near the end of the cycle lower card lever contacts 38 close to energize lower card lever magnet LCL which opens the contacts LCLb. It is during this last card feeding cycle that entries are made fromI the upper brushes into accumulator A in accor-df tional order of accumulator A to the adding magbrushes UB. Toward the end of this cycle, the

card engages a card lever and closes the upper card lever contacts designated 09 which completeI a circuit through upper card lever relay magnet nets 11, wire |5|, to line 84. The' impulse at 9 to each of the adding magnets 11 will commence vall these accumulator wheels rotating as though to enter 9s.

concurrently with the closure of contacts F|3, a pair of contacts FM also close, completing a circuit from line |00, card lever contacts UCLe, contacts FII, upper blade of relay contacts R|5, relay magnet R3 to line 3l. Magnet R3 opens its contacts R3a so that the 9's `impulse from contacts F|3 does not control accumulator B. Closure of contacts FM also causes energization of relay magnet R3 which closes its contacts R2a so that, as a card passes the upper brushes, entering circuits will be completed to the subtracting magnets |30 of accumulator A, of which a representative circuit may be traced as follows: from line |00 (Fig. 9a), contactsLll, card lever relay magnet contacts UCLh, to the common contact roller of the upper brushes, perforation in the card, brush UB, plug connection |52, contacts R211., contacts Rld, magnet |30, wire |5| to line 94. During this same cycle, upon closure of contacts F|5 (Fig. 9a) a circuit is comvpleted from line |00, contacts UCLe, contacts F|5, upper blade of contacts Rlib, magnet 53 related to accumulator A, to line 94. The magnet 53 will trip the carry lever in the units order of accumulator A, so that the elusive 1 is added to the 9 complement and, at the end of the cycle. the tens complement of date 1 will stand in accumulator A and there will be no entry in accumulator B.

Alternating magnet contrdl circuit-Toward the end of the cycle, cam contacts FIG close completing a circuit from line |00 (Fig. 9a). contacts FIG. magnet |53, card lever contacts UCLa (now closed), to lineI 94. Magnet |53 through a stepping pawl |54 advances ratchet |55 one step l The.

ratchet |55 contacts |51 are alternately opened and closed. Thus, with magnet |53 energized near the end of the last cycle ratchet |55 and disk |58 will be advanced one step, so that during the next succeeding cycle contacts |51 are closed and as a result relay magnet R| is energized. Generally, during each odd numbered card feeding cycle contacts |51 are open and magnet R|5 deenergized, while for each even numbered card feed cycle the contacts are closed and magnet RIB is energized.

Entering date 1 `of the second card-As the second card now passes the upper brushes, the rst card concurrently passes the lower brushes and the lower card lever contacts 98 are closed, so

that the lower card lever magnet LCL is energized to shift its related contacts. At the begin- 1 ning of this second card feeding cycle, closure of cam contacts F|4 (Fig. 9a) will result in energization oi.' relay magnet Rl, thrugh lower contacts R|5a which are now shifted from the position f shown. At the same time the relay magnet R2 is again energized. With magnets RI and R2 energized, the entering circuits from the upper brushes continuing through the plug connections |52 will pass through relay contacts R2a, contacts Ric to the adding magnets 11 of accumulator A to enter the date on the card directly into the accumulator.

In accumulator B, the relay magnet R3 is deenergized forthis cycle, so that the 9 impulse from contacts F|3 will pass through contacts R3a, wire |58, through all the contacts R3b to all the adding magnets 11 of accumulator B. -Magnet R4 is now also energized, since the lower card lever contacts LCLg are closed. This results in closure of contacts R4a, so that the circuits from the upper brushes through plug connections |52 will continue through connections |59, through contacts R4a, contacts R3d, subtracting magnets |30 of accumulator B, wire |5| to line 94. Also during this cycle closure of cam contacts F|5 will complete the elusive 1 controlling circuit through the lower contacts R|5b and the magnet 53 associated with accumulator B. Thus, at the end of the second card feeding cycle the date from the second card will have been positively entered in accumulator A and its tens complement in accumulator B. Near the end of the cycle cam contacts FIG again close, energizing magnet |53, so that the disk |56 advances one further step to restore the contacts |51 to their open condition with resultant deenergization of magnet R|5.

Entering date 1 from the third card- During the now ensuing cycle, the date 1 is entered into accumulator A as the tens complement in the same manner as explained in connection' with the nrst card, This time the true date number is entered into accumulator B, which entry was not eilected for the first card. It may be pointed out that during the sensing of the ilrst card the lower card lever relay magnet LCL was not energized, so that contacts LCLg (Fig. 9a) were open, preventing the energization of relay magnet R4 with the result that no entry circuits could be completed for accumulator B during that cycle. During subsequent cycles, however, cards will be passing the lower brushes and contacts LCLg will accordingly be closed, .so that the suppression of entries into accumulator B is automatically efrective only for the first date card. Thereafter, the entries will alternate as represented in Fig. 8.

Entering date 3 from the fourth card-As the fourth card pases brushes UB, the true value 3 will be entered in accumulator A and the tens nism will have detected the minor group change and caused deenergization oi! the magnets MI and R|0 (Fig. 9). As a result, the holding circuit through relay magnet R|4 is broken at contacts Rl0b, which magnet in turn opens its contacts R|4b to deenergize the card feed clutch magnet I8, so that further card feeding operations are suspended. Upon closure of contacts R|0a, a circuit is completed from line 94, wire 95, contacts Rl0a, cam contacts L8, relay magnet RIB, to line |00. Magnet RI 5 closes its contacts R|8a so that, when contacts L2 close near the end of the cycle, a circuit is completed through contacts Rla to energize the total taking and reset clutch magnet 10. It may be mentioned here that magnet 24 is the usual printing clutch magnet which, when energized, couples the printing devices to the constantly operating driving mechanism ol' the machine. As shown in Fig. 9, this magnet is energized each cycle by contacts L2 so that the printing mechanism is in constant operation throughout all cycles of the machine.

Print selecting circuits-During this total print and reset cycle, the true difference 2 standing in accumulator A is to be printed. In the entering of dates from the several cards the difference may occur in either of the two accumulators upon a group change. For this purpose, devices are provided to determine which accumulator contains the true amount and to print from that accumulator and to suppress printing from the other. For this reason the highest order readout section of accumulator A' is utilized. If the highest order wheel o1' accumulator A stands at 9, printing will take place from accumulator B, whereas it this highest order wheel of accumulator A stands at any other digital position than 9, printing will take place from accumulator A. For the example chosen, the highest order of accumulator A does not stand at 9 so that the several relay contacts shown in Fig. 9b remain in the positions shown. During the total print and reset cycle, the usual impulse emitter designated E rotates to complete circuits at diierent times for control of the printing magnets 36 in accordance with the setting of readout brushes ||0. A representative circuit is traceable from line 94, contacts R|0c, emitter E, the 2 wire |60, the 2 segment in the lowest order of accumulator A, the brush ||8 which is on this segment for the date diilerence 2, lowest order strip ||2, relay contacts Rib, to the lowest print magnet 38 and to line |00.

If the accumulator A had contained a 9 in its highest order, then closure of cam contacts P5 at the very beginning of the total print and reset cycle would have completed a circuit from line 9,4, contacts P5, 9 segment in the highest order, brush ||0, strip ||2, a relay magnet R8, magnet R5 to line |00. Magnet R6 closes its contacts R60 to provide a holding circuit for itself and magnet R5 through contacts P1 which maintains the magnet energized throughout the total print and reset cycle. As a result, contacts R55 will be opened and contacts Ria would be closed during the cycle, so that printing from accumulator A is suppressed and printing will take place from accumulator B instead, through the contacts Ra. Selective reset of accumulatorsA and B-In Fig. 9b magnets |6| represent the usual reset magnets which, when energized during a total printing and reset cycle, will result in zeroizing their related accumulators. Contacts R5c are normally positioned so that upon closure of contacts P1 the reset magnet of accumulator A is energized. When as explained, the highest order of accumulator A contains a 9, relay magnet R5 is energized so that the contacts R5c are shifted and reset magnet |6| of accumulator B is ener- 'gized instead of magnet |6| of accumulator A. Thus, the resetting is coordinated with total printing, that is, the accumulator from which printing of the date takes place is the one which is reset during the total print and reset cycle, so that at the end of the present cycle accumulator A stands at zero and accumulator B has the setting 9997 as indicated in Fig. 8.

Entering date 3 from the fifth card-Near the end of the reset cycle cam contacts P3 close to reenergize the minor control magnets MI and RIU. Also, when contacts L8 open, relay magnet R|6 is deenergized and the reset clutch magnet is deenergized. Near the end of the cycle, cam contacts P'l close to energize relay magnet RI3 which, as already explained, initiates card feeding operations so that in the following cycle the card bearing the date 3 passes the upper brushes and circuits are completed therethrough to cause entry of the complement 9997 into accumulator A and the true value of the date 3 in accumulator B. A second card feed cycle follows the first, during which the date 4 on the sixth card is entered positively in accumulator A and negatively in accumulator B. At the end of such cycle the group control mechanism again detects the change and initiates the total print and reset cycle, during which, as in the prior reset cycle, it is found that accumulator A contains the true difference so that the difference 1 is printed from accumulator A and such accumulator is zeroized while the amount 9996 is retained in accumulator B. Upon resumption of card feeding, the card bearing date 5 passes brushes UB and this date is entered positively into accumulator B and negatively in accumulator A. A group change is again indicated but this time the true difference appears in accumulator B, so that relay magnet R5 (Fig. 9b)

:ls energized and printing of date l takes place from accumulator B with accompanying reset thereof.

Further card feeding and total taking operations continue in the foregoing manner with all odd numbered cards having their date values entered positively in accumulator B and negatively in accumulator A, while all even numbered cards have their date values entered positively in accumulator A and negatively in accumulator B, so that upon any group change the true date difference may appear in either of the accumulators whose readout will then be automatically adjustedl to print from the proper accumulator.

M ay'or group change- When the last card having date 30 passes the upper brushes, it will control entries just as the previous cards and,after this card has advancedto the lower brushes, a minor group change is indicated, following which total printing from accumulator B takes place as indicated in Fig. 8 and accumulator B is reset.

After this last card lhas passed the upper brushes, the upper card lever contacts 98 open and later in the cycle, when contacts L5 open,

, a new group is fed into the machine.

the upper card lever magnet UCL becomes deenergized after the group control testing contacts F3 have opened and closed again. Thus, when contacts Pl close, contacts UCLb are open so that card feeding does not resume automatically. Start keycontacts S may now be manu-v ally closed to resume card feeding but there will now be no card passing the upper brushes. While the last card passes the lower brushes, no entries will be made in accumulators A and B and, upon the opening of group control testing contacts F3, magnets MI and RIU will become deenergized. The movement of the last card past the lower brushes will cause opening of lower card@ lever contacts 98 and consequent deenergization of the lower card lever relay magnet LCL. With lboth card lever contacts UCLa and LCLa open, the holding circuit through the main drive clutch |03 is broken and the machine will stop. To simplify the disclosure, it has been assumed that only one set of cards, all of the same account number, are passed through the machine at a time. With this arrangement a further set of customers cards may be placed in the magazine, and preliminary operations as described are carried out to first clear the accumulators and advance the rst card in the new set to the upper brushes. Depending upon the number of cards contained in a prior group or set of cards, thealternating wheel |56 (Fig. 9a) may be in either of its alternate positions when For the proper operation, the relay magnet R|5 is re- In order of contacts |62 is provided, which cooperate with the periphery of wheel |56 and'if, after the sensing of the prior set of cards the wheel were in position to close contacts |51, the contacts |62 would also be closed.

During the first preliminary card feed cycle, closure of cam contacts F|6 will complete a cir' cuit from line |00, contact Fl6, magnet |53, the contacts |62, normally closed card lever relay contacts UCLf to line 94. This would step wheel |56 ahead to open contacts |51 and also |62. As soon as cards arrive at the uper brushes, contacts UCLf will be opened to disable the effectiveness of contacts |62. At the same time contacts UCLg will close so that the wheel |56 will be advanced a step for each card feeding operation thereafter, and the contacts |51 open during the sensing of the odd numbered cards and close during the sensing of theeven numbered cards.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine controlled by record cards containing designations representing dates, said cards being arranged in order of successive dates, said machine having card feeding mechanism, upper and lower sensing brushes past which the cards are fed in succession by said card feeding mechanism, group control mechanism, printing devices and resetting devices, said group control of onf,- accumulator effective for direct entriesV and the entering means of the second accumulator effective for complemental entries during one cycle and for rendering the entering means of said one accumulator effective for complementary entries and the entering means ofthesecond accumulator effective for direct entries during the next cycle, said sequence of operations continuing as long as the card feeding mechanism remains in operation. means controlled by the upper sensing brushes in response to the sensing of date designations on each card for causing the entering means of both accumulators to enter the date into both accumulators, directly in one and complementarily in the other, means for controlling the operation of the entering means to cause suppression of the direct entry for the first card of a run, means effective upon operation of said group control mechanism for determining which accumulator contains a complementary value and means controlled thereby for selectively causing the printing devices to print from and the resetting devices to reset the accumulator containing the true value.

2. In a machine controlled by record cards containing designations representing dates, said cards being arranged in order 4of successive dates. said machine having card feeding mechanisms, upper and lower sensing brushes past which the cards are fed in succession, by said card feeding mechanism, group control mechanism, further operation controlling devices, said group control mechanism being responsive to said brushes when cards concurrently passing both brushes are unlike in date values for interrupting operation of the card feeding mechanism, initiating and effecting an operation of said further operation controlling devices and then causing resumption of card feeding, in combination with a pair of accumulators, entering means for each, for entering amounts into their respective accumulators directly or in the form of complements, cyclically operable means coordinated with the card feeding mechanism 'for rendering the entering means of one accumulameans of both accumulators to enter the date into both accumulators, directly in one and complementarily in the other, means for controlling the operation of the entering means to cause suppression of the direct entry for the first card of a run, means effective upon operation of said group control mechanism for determining which accumulator contains a complementary value and means controlled thereby for causing the further operation controlling devices to be controlled in accordance with the amount standing in the accumulator containing the true value. v IOINO GHERIMAN. 

